The Supreme Court majority built by Donald Trump could uphold efforts to expand presidential authority based on the legal principle of unitary executive theory.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Thursday to place on hold a dispute over California's standards for vehicle emissions and electric cars even as President Donald Trump's administration considers policy shifts that touch upon pending litigation at the nation's highest judicial body.

President Donald Trump has faced several setbacks from federal courts, which have blocked or paused some of his most controversial plans since taking office.